Unfortunately,
freedom did not automatically bring economic independence,
or even a hint of the former prosperity of the sugar cane days. The former
black African slaves, now new independent West Indians, found the era
of colonialism in the 1800s perhaps even more poverty-ridden.

And
with nothing coming out of the islands, Britain certainly
did not want to invest anything back into them. Most of the
West Indies went into a severe economic decline.

The
former slaves may have inherited the Caribbean, but there
was little for them to enjoy but sunshine and warm weather.

Land
was parceled up so some could survive by subsistence
farming. Others continued to work at low wages on the few struggling
sugar plantations.

World
War I brought an increase in the price ofsugar
and encouraged the islands to diversify into other crops,
such as bananas, spices, cocoa and coffee. Tourism became popular
after World War II.

By
the end of the 20th century, most of the British West Indies chose
independence, though the Cayman Islands decided to remain British.
Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Martin, which pretend to be an extension of
Europe, continued as French outposts in the Caribbean.

Since
the end of the great plantation days, the tropical
vegetation of the Caribbean slowly has been reclaiming the
land. The original growth is gone in most places, replaced by what's
called secondary growth, a mix of native trees and exotic
(imported) plants such as bamboo.

Altered,
perhaps, but not necessarily any worse. The argument could
well be made that the forests have never been more beautiful
or colorful due to the variety supplied by the imports.

Indeed,
it is almost impossible to distinguish between what
is "imported" and what is "native" to the Caribbean
anymore. Sugar cane, bananas, coffee and cocoa--all-important
economic staples--are not native species.

Because
the Caribbean was stripped bare to plant sugar cane during
the 1700s and 1800s, today is thebest time
since the 1600s to see the Caribbean at its most lush and
green, to revel in the mountains and woodlands.

The locals call it the bush, the same term used in Africa
to designate the wilderness.

For
walkers and hikers, the Caribbean is better now than it has
been for centuries. On many islands, these are the "good old
days."